[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][masterslider_pb id=”6″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1411209454922{margin-bottom: 60px !important;}” bg_type=”no_bg” bg_grad=”background: -webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, color-stop(0%, #FBFBFB), color-stop(50%, #E3E3E3), color-stop(100%, #C2C2C2));background: -moz-linear-gradient(top,#FBFBFB 0%,#E3E3E3 50%,#C2C2C2 100%);background: -webkit-linear-gradient(top,#FBFBFB 0%,#E3E3E3 50%,#C2C2C2 100%);background: -o-linear-gradient(top,#FBFBFB 0%,#E3E3E3 50%,#C2C2C2 100%);background: -ms-linear-gradient(top,#FBFBFB 0%,#E3E3E3 50%,#C2C2C2 100%);background: linear-gradient(top,#FBFBFB 0%,#E3E3E3 50%,#C2C2C2 100%);” parallax_style=”vcpb-default” bg_image_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_image_size=”cover” parallax_sense=”30″ animation_type=”h” horizontal_animation=”left-animation” vertical_animation=”top-animation” animation_repeat=”repeat” parallax_content_sense=”30″ fadeout_start_effect=”30″ bg_override=”0″][vc_column width=”1/1″][heading title_size=”title-size-medium” text_align=”center” text_color=”blue”]What is “Kotoba Miners”
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With a plethora of textbooks, grammar guides, vocabulary books, and even books trying to explain “the mystery of Japanese,” wouldn’t it be nice to just sit back, relax and learn in an environment led by a professional teacher living in Japan with not only knowledge about the language but also the culture?
And all that while having fun!?
And access from anywhere in the world?
Even while you sit in your underwear sipping gin ‘n’ juice?!*
If so, welcome to Kotoba Miners: Practical, activity-driven, structured Japanese language education for the 21st Century.
[/vc_column_text][bsf-info-box icon_type=”selector” icon=”embrace-info” img_width=”48″ icon_size=”35″ icon_color=”#16e5e2″ icon_style=”advanced” icon_border_style=”solid” icon_color_border=”#72e5e3″ icon_border_size=”1″ icon_border_radius=”500″ icon_border_spacing=”65″ title=”Join today!” read_more=”box” button_color=”blue” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kotobaminers.org%2Fhow-to-enroll%2F|title:How%20to%20enroll|” read_text=”Read More” hover_effect=”style_3″ pos=”square_box” box_border_style=”solid” icon_color_bg=”#ffffff” box_border_color=”#99e5e4″]Click here to sign up for our social, oral-communication course!
[/bsf-info-box][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1411208089783{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}” bg_type=”no_bg” bg_grad=”background: -webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, color-stop(0%, #FBFBFB), color-stop(50%, #E3E3E3), color-stop(100%, #C2C2C2));background: -moz-linear-gradient(top,#FBFBFB 0%,#E3E3E3 50%,#C2C2C2 100%);background: -webkit-linear-gradient(top,#FBFBFB 0%,#E3E3E3 50%,#C2C2C2 100%);background: -o-linear-gradient(top,#FBFBFB 0%,#E3E3E3 50%,#C2C2C2 100%);background: -ms-linear-gradient(top,#FBFBFB 0%,#E3E3E3 50%,#C2C2C2 100%);background: linear-gradient(top,#FBFBFB 0%,#E3E3E3 50%,#C2C2C2 100%);” parallax_style=”vcpb-default” bg_image_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_image_size=”cover” parallax_sense=”30″ animation_type=”h” horizontal_animation=”left-animation” vertical_animation=”top-animation” animation_repeat=”repeat” parallax_content_sense=”30″ fadeout_start_effect=”30″ bg_override=”0″][vc_column width=”1/1″][heading title_size=”title-size-small” text_align=”center” text_color=”blue” custom_attribs=”undrln”]“Textbook content without the textbook”
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Sure, self-studying is a good way to go about learning a language, but where do you get the chance to practice the instant you learn something new? With us, you have the opportunity to use what you learn 24/7 with our committed community and staff members.
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][heading title_size=”title-size-medium” text_align=”center” text_color=”blue”]Five things virtual worlds offer that textbooks don’t
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Learning in a virtual world is much like learning in the real-world. Unlike a textbook, it is possible to interact with the environment and players which give instant feedback. Experiential learning is ‘learning by doing’. A textbook can teach you about how to order an egg bagel, coffee with soy-milk, and blueberry muffin, but it cannot give you the experience of actually doing it. And it is this “experience” that your brain needs to retain the knowledge.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”2983″ border_color=”grey” img_link_target=”_self”][vc_column_text]All of our classes are based on practical, real-world activities that build on one another from week to week. Start by describing the colour of other students clothes, talk about your family and friends, progress onto group role-plays, and end in a 100% Japanese only environment speaking with Japanese natives.
[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][heading title_size=”title-size-small” text_align=”center” text_color=”blue”] “Don’t understand something? Ask us in class. A textbook certainly can’t do that!”
[/heading][vc_empty_space height=”32px”][heading title_size=”title-size-medium” text_align=”center” text_color=”blue”]Constantly updated
[/heading][vc_column_text]The virtual world that we use is called Minecraft. Yeah, you know, that silly, blocky, yet crazily addictive game, right? Minecraft is constantly updated with new, interesting content, which is apt, because so is our course and server! If I have an idea for a new learning activity, you’ll be the first to know about it!! Additionally, with a community of eager learners, community based activities pop up from time to time, too.
[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”2987″ border_color=”grey” img_link_target=”_self”][heading title_size=”title-size-medium” text_align=”center” text_color=”blue”]Not just a Minecraft server
[/heading][vc_column_text]Although we use Minecraft predominantly as the stage to teach lessons, the community certainly goes beyond that. Some of the things we do outside of class:
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][team_member team_member_style=”item-square” overlay_color=”#34d300″ image_url=”3208″ name=”James York (cheapsh0t)” job_position=”Owner and Teacher” description=”I have been working tirelessly on the Kotoba Miners project for the last two years and am immensely proud at what we have achieved. It is my pleasure to welcome you to the community.” tw_link=”https://www.twitter.com/yorksensei” fb_link=”https://www.facebook.com/yorksensei” in_link=”http://instagram.com/cheapshot” gp_link=”https://plus.google.com/+JamesYork/” yt_link=”https://www.youtube.com/user/yorksensei”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][team_member team_member_style=”item-square” overlay_color=”#8224e3″ image_url=”3159″ name=”Tero Korpela (Thasan)” job_position=”Technical God” description=”I was one of the first people to join Kotoba Miners way back when it was still called “Mining English.“ It has been my pleasure to help this server and community grow from strength to strength.”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][team_member team_member_style=”item-square” overlay_color=”#0077b2″ image_url=”3207″ name=”Sander Homan (Zerot)” job_position=”Teacher, Web and Plugin Developer” description=”James may be the owner, but the real brains behind the teaching outfit is me(!)”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][team_member team_member_style=”item-square” overlay_color=”#070707″ image_url=”3161″ name=”Ryan Clarke (xemnes)” job_position=”Architect & Web Developer” description=”I hand-crafted all of the major buildings in Kotoba Miners and the proud creator of the the custom texture pack (which you should definitely download btw!). I am also in charge of making the website and forums look pretty.”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_column_text]
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][team_member team_member_style=”item-square” overlay_color=”#dd3333″ image_url=”3160″ name=”Roy Marcelino (Yukinose)” job_position=”Teacher” description=”Where James (cheapshot) may have more knowledge of the Japanese language than me, when it comes to popular (geek?) culture, I’m the boss! Ask me anything about manga and anime!”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][team_member team_member_style=”item-square” overlay_color=”#9aa500″ image_url=”3187″ name=”Dillan Pruett (AnticDope)” job_position=”Creative Manager” description=”Hi everyone! I’m Dillan a.k.a. AnticDope. I have dabbled in many Kotoba Miners projects, most notably, the RPG server. I am also a community liaison and love meeting new people, so drop by our TeamSpeak server and introduce yourself!” link=”http://www.twitch.tv/anticdope” tw_link=”https://twitter.com/anticdope” fb_link=”https://www.facebook.com/dillanpruett” gp_link=”https://plus.google.com/+DillanPruett/” in_link=”http://instagram.com/dillanpruett”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_column_text]
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_cta_button2 h2=”Join now!” h4=”Here’s how” style=”rounded” txt_align=”left” title=”Click me!” btn_style=”rounded” color=”blue” size=”md” position=”bottom” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kotobaminers.org%2Fclass-times%2F|title:Class%20Times|”][/vc_column][/vc_row]